New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-11
PRICE THREE CENTS.
DROWNED WHILE ESCAPING.
TRAGIC END OF A NEw-JERsEY BURGLAR.
ROBBERY OF THE POST OFFICE AT BOUND BRoon

in the Raritan River while attempting to escape.
Bound Brook has $500 inhabitants, thirty -thres
miles from NewYork, and is the point where the
Philadelphia and Reading route branches of from
the main line Of the New-J ersey Central Rail-
road, going to Philadelphia About fifty yards
from the Central road and running parallel with
it's tracks is the main street Of the town On thia
thoroughfare at HamiltOn-st. and one hundrcd
yards from the Central Railroad station is tho
general store Of Alpaugh Rutt. w. H. Ale
paugh of the firm was recently appointed posts
master OF the town and moved the Office into
the store. The post Office is on the right hand
side as one enters the store. 1t consists OF
wooden partition containing a small number ot
lock boxes, q delivery window and couItteE
under which is a small safe. George SomcI, .
tall, slender young man Of twenty, is employed at
the Central station night operator. About
O'Clock this morning he walking along =
path in the rear Of the station he saw two men
moving around in Alpaugh & Ruth's store. He
hastened back to the station and awolke silss
Neilor Operator Bilyou and Mr. Cullen switch
man who slept at the station.
The four men aroused some neighbors and this
proprietors of the store and the place was soon
surrounded with residents armed with shOj guns
and reyOlvels. When Mr. Rutt reached the store
he unlocked the door and three of the TOWNS
people were about to enter when shot was fired
into the crowd through grating which covered
one Of the cellar windows. This caused the men
to withdraw from the door, and in few minutes
the burglars were in the rear Of the store.
John KOuhler, William LusS and George Haskell
then entered the place, and as they did SO the
burglars retreated into room at the rear OF the
store used boot and shoe salesroom. From
this q large double door secured by
stout wooden bar on the inside opens on to
ITamiIton-st This door flung suddenly open
and one of the burglars, without a coat, dashed
through and started to ruin In the direction OF the
station, followed by number OF the townspeoIia
who fired several shots after him. lie ran up to
tile freight house, which is about ten yards wese
of the station just as the train from Phiadelphia
which reaches Bound Brook at :04 a. m. pulled
up at the station. The burglar jumped upon the
platform of one of the cars, where he was caught
by Joseph Quinn, q brakeman He discharged his
revolver at Quinn, who made no further ehor0
to stop him. The thief then continued his fiigh1
across the tracks Of the Lchigh Valley Railroad.
which at this point is parallel with the Centiai.
few yards to the banks Of the Raritan RIVER.
Here he stopped moment and took OIL paie
of rubber shoes. He turned on his purs'iers ana
DISCHARGED his revolver at Somcrs. who was Close
upon him, and shouting |Blanll you, follow ma
if you dare" sprang into the river lhe riNef'
which at this point is usually about six feet deep
|
and ran unusually swift The thief struck out
| for the opposite shore and when he was about
half way across sank out Of the sight OF thoso
on the bank and Of several men who had run
around the bridge about 800 yards below TO inter-
! cept him on the opposite shore.
| When the crowd ran after the fleeing, burgiax
John Hagan, Howard Giles and Postmaster AZ
paugh remained at the store. In few minutes
the other burglar appeared at the door and was
| Immediately covered by Hagan's gun and conn
manded TO surrender. He replied All right
SIR and stepped forward. He handed his rc-
volver to Howard Giles and was then secured.
The prisoner was taken over to the freight house
and guarded until the arrival OF Constable J L.
| Bush While awaiting the arrival OF the con-
stable he was seen to tear up some paper Ihe
pieces were secured and found to he an envelope
addressed to William Rocket. care OF T. y:
Keenan,, No. IL Chrystie-st., New-YoIk lie salo
that "Rocllett7 his name. lie was taken 70
Somerville on the 5 :25 train and committed 70
the Somerset County jail. d.
| The burglars had gained entrance to the store
Through n window The window protected by
a thick wire screen which they removed by taKihS
| out the screws They took Sc 33 from the TIL OF
| the store and about $50 in cash ana quamity
of postage stamps from the money drawer OF tno
| post Office. They opened one registered ictoeo
and abstracted 81 therefrom. The remainder on
tbc money taken in during the day. had been taken
home by Mr.. Alpaugh. None OF the missing
money was found Oh Rocket. They. had packed
two small pasteboard boxes one win k,a sip.
and tbe other with neckties, silk handIscrchiefs
and cheap iewelry. They left behind coat In
the pockets OF which were two skeieeon Keys
a pair of wooden gloves, skull cap ana hahd-
Serchiefs. jimmy WAS found IN pasrel % IN ns .ns
cellar Inspector Clark Of the Post ONCE secreo
service was on the ground investigating the AFFAIR.
| FROM early morning until p IN. the river near
where the thief disappeared was dragged ZOE
the body without success. Rockcu SAYS nc u
is boatmtn and this was his first JSS;; ie n mee
| vyhO
Bowery lodging house four weeks ago. ,vaai% Lass
night Wilson told him make .Smc ss moDsv wSsc
RocIctt consented and theytook afreght train from
jersey City y,n at w;,,oa aa tSld Nh him Wns tnss
Se was going to rob the postotce at Bound Broox.
where he was well acquainted and mocke's S;cs SEh
sented to Join HIM oups Brook say they saw Rock
ett In that town yesterday IN company WIN ""''H
er man. -. .ror,rg Manning T.
About astsotive sU for tho Of
SeDwr Somerset Couty. showed, Rocket 2. photo.
ss 1sSs,. s 'HfS h% sa$ that
rsHl C1HnsT swsn.y'nGHSs G,s aatsne ssS.
on %h0 tns arc miles eas. Of
hes hese served time in the Trenton State ps.soa
'is" ;ssetsd Pf sSfss' tasSsi sSSs
tMo hS weeks ss sSS Sph the post office at Newmarket
ONE mile from Dunellen. His headqua.ttcrs .ters
Ea' SsWYGrk No. the liquor aGSrystsess :ssss
Sf & r. noon,e o,, think that he escaped.
Sns Several declare that they saw hum SINK ID sas shs
river The river viii be dragged for MS oooy agar"
| tomorrow.
Inquiry was made last evening at No. & o. on,y.
te-sr, tno vas camoht rob6ing the Post once ae
Rnnnd Brook, but no one could be found VINO ha0
| over heard of RCckett.
ATTEMPT TO ABDUCT CHILD.